Duke S Hula Pie Copycat Recipe

When I lived in Hawaii, my roommates and I would take the bus to Waikiki just to eat at Duke’s and get a big old slice of Hula Pie. It is the classic favorite dessert choice at Duke’s. It was totally worth the trek across the island just for one bite! Now that I live back on the mainland, Hula Pie is a bit more difficult to come by. But all you need are a few delectable ingredients and a little patience, and you’ll have the famous hula pie in your home. This copycat recipe is as close as it gets to the original when a vacation to Hawaii just isn’t in the cards.

Ingredients in Homemade Hula Pie

For all you avid dessert eaters, you’re going to LOVE this incredible delight to the taste buds! Here’s what you need to make this island treat at home:

Oreo Pie Crust – see notes below. French Vanilla Ice Cream – a gallon of your favorite vanilla ice cream will work. The original pie recipe calls for macadamia nut ice cream but it’s difficult to find. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, and coffee ice cream are all good substitutions. Coconut extract – about two teaspoons. Macadamia nuts – coarsely chopped. Fudge topping – about two cups, see notes below. Whipped cream – A delicious topping for this pie. Fudge topping – a layer of cool chocolate fudge on top, plus a few extra drizzles, to taste. Macadamia nuts – toasted macadamia nuts for garnish.

The Original Hula Pie

Hula Pie actually originated at Kimo’s restaurant in Hawaii but it probably is more widely known for being a dessert at Duke’s. Its real name is “Kimo’s Original Hula Pie Recipe” and it is even labeled as such on the menu at Duke’s. Hula Pie has become a fan-favorite around the world and people come from far and wide just to try a slice! You can buy Hula Pie at any Duke’s restaurant. Duke’s has three locations in Hawaii and also three in California. Or stop by any of Duke’s sister restaurants: Kimo’s, Keoki’s Paradise, Hula Grill, Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge, Leilani’s on the Beach, and Jake’s del Mar. For an entire list of restaurants and exact locations, visit the Duke’s Restaurants website.

Macadamia Nut Ice Cream

Macadamia nut ice cream can be tricky to find, especially on the mainland, but it is key for this recipe. I haven’t had much luck finding my favorite macadamia nut ice cream so instead I make my own macadamia nut ice cream for Hula Pie. The easiest way to make a DIY macadamia nut ice cream is to make a vanilla ice cream mixture with macadamia nuts and coconut flavoring.

For this recipe, you can either use a store-bought pie shell or you can make your own scrumptious chocolate cookie crust. I prefer the homemade crust because it seems truer to the original Hula Pie at Duke’s. To make a homemade Oreo crust, just take about 25 Oreo cookies and blend them up in a food processor, filling and all. Place them in a bowl and add ¼ cup melted butter and stir until well combined. Then press into a 9″ pie pan and freeze as per the directions below. That’s it!

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

You can use store-bought chocolate fudge for this recipe if you would like, but we encourage you to try our homemade hot fudge sauce. It has that amazing fudgy texture that will delight your taste buds in a way that the jar stuff just doesn’t. Our incredible homemade hot fudge sauce recipe has been in our family for over 25 years. If you decide to use this sauce recipe, add ½ cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons butter to the other ingredients to make it thin enough to spread. We know you are going to love it! Trust me, it goes perfectly with this Hula Pie! READ MORE: 33+ Easy Dessert Ideas